Darr H. Alkire
| Darr Hayes Alkire | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
December 31, 1903 Fay, Nevada |
| Died | July 22, 1977 (aged 73) Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Place of Burial | National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Force United States Air Force |
| Years of service | March 10, 1924-October 31, 1956 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 1937: 96th Bomb Squadron 1942: 2d Bombardment Group 1942: 100th Bombardment Group 1943: 449th Bombardment Group 1954: Newark Transportation Control Depot 1954: 3101st Logistics Control Group |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards |
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (Army Design) Silver Star Prisoner of War Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Eleanor McKee (1927-28) Alma Tate Robinson (1930+) |
| Children | Michael E. (1927) Darrilyn Ann (1932) Jacqueline Hayes (1934) |
Brigadier General Darr Hayes Alkire was a pilot for the United States Army Air Corps, the United States Army Air Forces, and the United States Air Force. He was the senior officer in command of the West Compound at Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp after being shot down and captured in in 1944.
Alkire was born in Fay, Nevada in 1903. He graduated from high School in Salt Lake City, Utah and spent two years studying at the University of Utah before joining the Army.
Alkire was appointed flying cadet at Brooks Field, Texas in 1924. After graduating from flight school, he was assigned to the 6th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field Hawaii. In 1930, he became a flight instructor at March Field in California and then a flight instructor at Randolph Field in Texas. While stationed at Randolph, Alkire had a forced landing/accident in a Douglas BT-2C (#31-445) in Yorktown, TX on April 11, 1932.
During World War II, Alkire took over command of the 2d Bombardment Group in January 1942, and became the first commander of the 100th Bombardment Group in November of 1942. In November 1943, Alkire became the Commander of the 449th Bombardment Group. On December 18, 1943, Alkire piloted the Maui Maid (41-28623, named for his 2nd wife) to Grottaglie Airfield, making it the first 449th Bombardment Group B-24 to land in Italy. The Maui Maid was scrapped for parts after a different crew struck an embankment.
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